Of the nine viable candidates, the Chargers will likely keep seven. That means someone like Ryon Bingham, Alfonso Boone or Travis Johnson could be gone. Bingham, on injured reserve last year, has played a lot. The Chargers do not go to the playoffs in 2009 without Boone and Johnson.

The competition for the final couple of spots will be the most brutal in camp.

The fifth man

There has not been this good of a chance for a wide receiver to crack the roster since before Turner arrived in 2007.

Not only did the Chargers have a full complement of legitimate wide receivers, they had special teams standout Kassim Osgood, who was a receiver. Osgood is gone; so is Chris Chambers. And, of course, Jackson is staying away.

It is assumed veteran Josh Reed will make the team behind incumbents Malcom Floyd, Legedu Naanee and Buster Davis. That would leave a fifth spot for a rookie, all of the candidates having been undrafted.

The official word is that the race is wide open. Really, there are no more than four candidates. They are Seyi Ajirotutu, Gary Banks, Ernest Smith and Jeremy Williams — and the other three have a lot of work to do to pass Williams.

Safety dance

There was a thought by some in the organization after his first season that Steve Gregory was not long for the NFL. But his work ethic, smarts and discipline have kept him around.

The guy was essentially a starter (at nickel back) the final 11 games of last season, during which time the defense improved and the Chargers went 11-0.

Gregory will likely start camp as the No. 1 strong safety, but he faces serious competition from Darrell Stuckey, who is faster, a little bigger and whom the Chargers invested in with a fourth-round pick in April.

Gregory will play a big role in a defense that often features extra defensive backs, but the next five weeks will say a lot about the look of a secondary that has been in seemingly constant flux for going on six years.

Cro no mo’

Antonio Cromartie was supposed to be the future, seemingly destined to be the highest-paid corner in the NFL. But after a 2007 season in which he had 10 interceptions, Cromartie had five picks over the past two years and in March was traded to the New York Jets.

Finally, Antoine Cason, the man the Chargers drafted in the first round the spring after Cromartie’s breakout year, gets his shot. He won’t be as spectacular as Cromartie, but he can get the ball, is expected to be more consistent and will certainly be more physical.

Cason was benched after five games as the No. 1 nickel in 2009, but playing cornerback is an almost entirely different position, where he can be more aggressive, will go against different receivers and has the sideline with which to work.

A good showing in the offseason has already virtually assured Cason the starting job, but an impressive camp and preseason would be a boost for him and the defense.